REST IN PEACE

1. REST IN PEACE need not be said for the dead, what you get when you die is what you rightly deserve, “And as it is appointed unto men ONCE TO DIE, but after this the JUDGMENT” [Hebrews 9:27] It is preposterous to wish any man PEACE or REST after death; if he did not have it here, he will not get it hereafter. Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man in Luke 16:20-31, clarify what happens after DEATH, “And it came to pass, that the BEGGAR DIED, and was CARRIED BY THE ANGELS into Abraham's bosom: the RICH MAN ALSO DIED, and was BURIED; AND IN HELL he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” [Luke 16:22-23] The DEAD are not JUDGED by what they had or had not; the BEGGAR inherited REST and PEACE not because he was POOR,  the RICH MAN had neither REST nor PEACE in spite of his riches, “… Take heed, and BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS: for a MAN’S LIFE CONSISTETH NOT IN THE ABUNDANCE of the things which he possesseth” [Luke 12:15] A MAN’S LIFE is as a SEED and there are two kinds, corruptible and incorruptible; one germinates to DISTRESS and SHAME, the other to REST IN PEACE, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP” [Galatians 6:7]

2. Every time we say REST IN PEACE, we place the cart before the horse; PEACE first and then REST, as it is written: “He shall enter into PEACE: they shall REST in their beds, each one walking in his UPRIGHTNESS” [Isaiah 57:2] What the world call PEACE is at best brief moments of seeming stability in tempestuous sea of instability. The world is impervious to genuine PEACE because it is dislocated from God and enslaved to the WICKED ONE, “The field is the world; the GOOD SEED are the children of the kingdom; but the TARES are the CHILDREN of the WICKED ONE” [Matthew 13:38] Satan is the WICKED ONE and we are the GOOD SEED, having made PEACE with God through Jesus Christ, in who God revealed Himself, “To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, RECONCILING the WORLD unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” [2 Corinthians 5:19] We have PEACE with God not because of our offerings but of FAITH in the WORD of God which is God, John 1:1, was made FLESH and dwells in us, “Therefore being JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” [Romans 5:1] If any man is not JUSTIFIED by FAITH, he is as guilty as the WICKED ONE and bereft of PEACE, “THERE IS NO PEACE, saith the LORD, UNTO THE WICKED” [Isaiah 48:22] PEACE in this world and hereafter is in Jesus Christ and no other, “PEACE I leave with you, MY PEACE I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” [John 14:27]

3. PEACE is God’s GIFT to man through Jesus Christ and REST, a sure PROMISE to His BRIDE, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a PROMISE being left us of entering into HIS REST, any of you should seem to come short of it” [Hebrews 4:1] A BRIDE leaves father, mother and all, to be consecrated to one man; so are we His BRIDE, who left everything we were or ever wished to be joined to Christ in one BODY. His REST is not inactivity as some imagine but Christ in us, driving, guiding and working in us to accomplish His purpose, “For it is GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU both to WILL and to DO of his GOOD PLEASURE” [Philippians 2:13] A man may have PEACE with God yet have not REST, toiling and fighting needless battles because he has not entered into God’s REST, “For he that is entered into HIS REST, he also hath CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, as God did from his” [Hebrews 4:10] REST is not given but sought and found by those who are willing to cease labouring after their own devices, in total submission to the WILL of Christ, “Come unto me, all ye that LABOUR and HEAVY LADEN, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOKE upon you, and LEARN of me; for I am MEEK and LOWLY in heart: and YE SHALL FIND REST unto your SOULS … ” [Matthew 11:28-30] Though this earthly BODY be afflicted with TRIALS and the world tossed upside down, we are not troubled because our SOULS are at REST in Him, “Therefore WILL WE NOT FEAR, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” [Psalms 46:2]

4. REST IN PEACE is the prerogative of God who knows the secrets of every heart and His JUDGMENT is true, “SOME MEN’S SINS ARE OPEN beforehand, going before to JUDGMENT; and SOME MEN THEY FOLLOW after. LIKEWISE ALSO THE GOOD WORKS of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid” [1 Timothy 5:24-25] Every time we wish the dead REST or PEACE, we infringe God’s sovereignty; whatever we think we know of the deceased is at best superficial and we might be wrong. The death of a loved one is an opportunity to examine our relationship with God,  DEATH as we know does not send notices and the appearance of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night, “Let us labour therefore to ENTER INTO THAT REST, lest any man FALL after the same example of UNBELIEF” [Hebrews 4:11] Take note, those who “FELL” into UNBELIEF, once BELIEVED; if you have made PEACE with God through Jesus Christ, seek His REST and hold on till DEATH or TRANSLATION, “… Blessed are the dead which DIE IN THE LORD from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; and their WORKS DO FOLLOW them” [Revelation 14:13] Make PEACE with God today, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, amen
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